Health
Red Cross Calls for Lasting Peace as 300 Displaced Families in Miango Receive Relief Support
About 300 families in Miango community of Bassa Local Government Area, Plateau State, have received ₦100,000 cash and essential household materials from the Nigerian Red Cross Society (NRCS) in collaboration with the International Federation of Red Cross (IFRC), to help them rebuild their lives after recent violent attacks displaced many residents.
The relief distribution, held on Tuesday, November 11, was both emotional and hopeful as displaced families gathered to receive items including mats, mosquito nets, blankets, aqua tabs for water purification, cooking utensils, buckets, soap, and ATM cards preloaded with ₦100,000 each.
Razaki Unusa, the Team Lead and Plateau State Disaster Management Officer of the Nigerian Red Cross Society (NRCS), said:
“The Red Cross is an organization with the vision to help humanity, giving a hand to those who can’t help themselves. We are here in Bassa LGA to give relief to victims of attacks, and the beneficiaries consist of those who are mostly affected like the pregnant women, widowed, aged persons, persons with disability, those who have lost all members of their family and so on.
Before we brought this relief, we were able to interact with them to know what they need most and the best way we can come in. We realized that most of them have lost their homes and don’t have where to sleep, that’s why we provided the mats, blankets, and mosquito nets. There’s also the issue of water, which is why we provided them with aqua tabs so that they can drink clean water, and a stipend of ₦100,000 that they can use to settle other things we were not able to provide.
This is the little we can do with the help of our funding partner, the IFRC. From this intervention, we have been able to see the end result of conflict, how it affects people, and how much people in conflicting areas need support. But we can only do this much, so we are calling on the international community together with the government to initiate peace and see how peaceful coexistence can take preeminence so that we don’t keep having people dealing with the consequences.”
Patience Adaje, Senior Officer, Nature-Based Solutions, IFRC, added:
“Our aim is to help the community, especially the displaced persons, to be able to recover from the losses and the displacement that they’ve gone through.”
Community leaders also expressed deep gratitude. Meangwa of Tegbe District, Sunday Yara, said:
“You know as leaders, when things like this happen, it pains you and you won’t know what to do—because is it to console your people or to mourn yourself? But Red Cross has found a way to console us.”
Another Meangwa of Tegbe, Tomos Ganson, noted:
“What has happened in our community is very painful. Almost everybody was affected and we don’t know what to do—houses burnt, farms destroyed. Now we are trying to build our lives again. These things given to us by Red Cross will really help all of us. Thank you, Red Cross, and we hope and pray that they reach out to other communities too, and that these killings should stop.”
Pastor Sunday Wollo of RCCG Tegbe also shared his experience:
“If you check our church, you will see it empty because these people came, killed us, attacked us. My church members were killed. The Bible said cry to the Lord and He will send you help—and God has sent us Red Cross. Even though it won’t bring back all we have lost, it will help us to get by. Many have lost their homes, properties, and families. At least with this mat, they have what to lie on and money to eat.”
Similarly, Pastor Zanfara Zerechi of Ancha District said:
“I lost my only son to this unprovoked attack. He was killed in broad daylight on his way to the farm. He left behind his wife and son for me to take care of, and it hasn’t been easy at all. So I want to thank Red Cross for providing for us. This ₦100,000 is going to help a lot.”
Two other beneficiaries, Ladi Sunday from Tegbe District and Jumia Barry from Ancha District, said they were “the happiest” since the attacks, as they had not had any sense of direction until this intervention. Jumia explained that her elder brother, who was their breadwinner, was killed. The two women were seen dancing and singing throughout the process, even before receiving their relief items, and even more after collecting theirs.
The CRC Community Resilience Corps Committee Leader, Sunday Tsi, said:
“When Red Cross came to our community, they told us they wanted to help us and gave us categories of people—that is, displaced persons like the aged, nursing and lactating mothers, pregnant women, persons with disability, and widowed orphans. So they gathered those people, listened to them, asked them some questions, and then did capturing of the most affected. And today they are here as promised. We are really grateful that they carried us along in the process.”
Grace Sunday from Tegbe District narrated her painful experience:
“My mother and the girl staying with me were burnt to death in the first attack. Then, in another attack, I lost my husband, and my daughter’s hand was cut off. Our land was destroyed and it has not been easy for us at all. I will use this money to start a business. I’m so grateful to Red Cross and to God for bringing you. May you continue to prosper.”
Another excited beneficiary, Mary Moses, who took a selfie after receiving her package, said:
“During one of the attacks, my mother and father were killed and since then I have been on my own. So I’m very happy. I’m going to use everything well. I will do business and try to go to school. Thank you, Red Cross, I’m very happy. This number you gave us—when we call it, it will be to say thank you, not for anything bad, only good news. Thank you oh!”
Gastos Sunday also expressed appreciation, saying:
“What happened to us is not to our liking, and that’s why sometimes when they bring things like this to us, you see us crying because we remember our losses. If this wickedness was not done to us, then we wouldn’t be receiving this. But we are indeed very grateful to Red Cross. When they first came and told us they would help, some of us did not believe, but they kept to their words and today they brought all these. We are very grateful. Thank you very much. May God provide for all the international people helping us and the Nigerian Red Cross and all you people helping—thank you. We also pray that these attacks won’t happen again.”
Laraba Yohanna said:
“I have no one. I lost my parents and children in these attacks. Now I have no one. But today, with the help of Red Cross—ah Red Cross thank you. I thank you, where you are taking from will not dry. Thank you.”
Other beneficiaries, including Afiniki Joseph, Mats Danladi, Asebe James, and Eve Barry, also prayed fervently for the Red Cross team in appreciation.
The Community Engagement Accountability (CEA) Focal Point for the Plateau Branch noted that:
“The beneficiaries of this intervention are indeed the most affected displaced persons. Most are displaced, but there are some that are so honorable, and the relief given to them are indeed things needed by these displaced persons, which can be seen from their excitement. The distribution process has been orderly, sincere, and smooth so far, with cooperation from the people and the Red Cross.”
Finally, Gift Reshi Azamu, a volunteer with the NRCS, said:
“It’s been a privilege to work with the Nigerian Red Cross Plateau Chapter, and so far, this has helped me to relate more with the issues that come with conflict. You know, most times you hear about these attacks on radio and television, but you still don’t get it. Having come here and seen these communities, I’ve learnt that choosing peace is the best because these people are going through a lot. But today I can also say that this intervention is indeed very helpful. Look at the smiles on their faces—they were even dancing earlier, some even crying. So I hope more of these interventions keep coming. Yes, humanity first, and we really appreciate Red Cross. It’s an honor working with them.”
The federal government has been urged to embrace Artificial Intelligence (AI) and increase domestic investment in health research to safeguard Nigeria’s public health system amid declining international donor funding.
Alash’le Abimiku, Executive Director of the International Research Centre of Excellence (IRCE) at the Institute of Human Virology Nigeria (IHVN), made the call at a news conference in Abuja.
The briefing was held ahead of the fourth IRCE Annual Scientific Symposium scheduled to take place from 31 August to 1 September.
The symposium is themed “Shaping the Future of Public Health Research through Sustainable Funding, Artificial Intelligence/Machine Learning (AI/ML) and Innovation.”
Ms Abimiku said recent cuts in global health funding, including support from major international donors, underscored the need for Nigeria to strengthen local financing for research and build sustainable capacity.
She said stronger domestic investment would help the country address emerging health challenges and reduce its vulnerability to fluctuations in external funding.
Ms Abimiku said that many Nigerian researchers relied heavily on international grants, warning that shrinking research budgets could weaken the country’s ability to compete for funding and generate locally relevant evidence.
“We are asking government to begin investing in research. It may not be as much as international funding, but it can keep researchers productive, build capacity and sustain innovation.
“Disease outbreaks will not stop because funding has been reduced. HIV, cancer, sickle cell disease, Lassa fever and future pandemics will continue to challenge us, so we must prepare,” she said.
According to her, AI presents an opportunity to improve research productivity, accelerate data analysis and strengthen evidence-based decision-making when deployed responsibly and ethically.
She, however, cautioned researchers against over-dependence on AI, emphasising that innovation, critical thinking and scientific curiosity must remain central to the research process.
“AI can summarise years of research within seconds, but researchers must continue to ask critical questions, experiment and innovate.
“We must use AI to enhance, not replace, scientific thinking,” she said.
The symposium
Ms Abimiku explained that the symposium would explore how AI and machine learning could complement reduced research funding by improving efficiency while safeguarding data privacy and ethical standards.
She added that a pre-symposium hackathon had been introduced to expose researchers, healthcare professionals, and young innovators to practical AI tools to solve public health challenges.
According to her, the initiative is designed to bridge the gap between experienced researchers and younger professionals already familiar with emerging AI technologies.
Ms Abimiku urged policymakers, industry leaders and researchers to collaborate to develop sustainable research funding mechanisms that reduce Nigeria’s dependence on foreign support.
She cited South Africa’s model of competitive, government-funded research grants as an example of how countries could sustain scientific innovation despite reductions in international funding.
Also speaking, Sophia Osawe, head of research operations at IRCE, said the centre’s Inform Africa programme was already deploying AI and machine learning to strengthen Nigeria’s preparedness for disease outbreaks.
Ms Osawe explained that the programme used big data to predict disease trends and identify communities requiring urgent interventions, including vaccine deployment during pandemics such as HIV and COVID-19.
“These AI-powered tools help the government identify where interventions are most needed so resources can be deployed more efficiently and lives protected,” she said.
Similarly, James Onyemata, head of molecular diagnostics at IRCE, emphasised Nigeria’s strategic role in regional disease surveillance and genomic monitoring.
READ ALSO: Top AI CEOs speak about regulation of artificial intelligence, challenges, opportunities
According to him, with Nigeria accounting for about half of West Africa’s population, genomic surveillance data generated in the country are essential for developing vaccines effective against circulating virus strains.
“If we do not provide this information, vaccines developed elsewhere may not adequately protect populations in West Africa because they may not target the variants circulating here,” Onyemata said.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the symposium will continue with technical sessions on ethical AI, genomic surveillance, pandemic preparedness, sustainable research financing and innovations aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s public health system.
(NAN)
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The Nigerian government has set a target to provide reliable electricity to at least 30 per cent of health facilities by the end of 2027, as about 40 per cent of functional Primary Healthcare Centres (PHCs) currently lack access to electricity.
The Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Iziaq Salako, disclosed this on Wednesday in Abuja at the official launch of the Rural Electrification Agency (REA)-Renewable Asset Management Company (RAMCO).
The event was held under the theme, “Powering Sustainable Growth: Launching Nigeria’s Renewable Asset Management Company.”
Mr Salako said the electricity deficit in health facilities was undermining healthcare delivery, noting that reliable power was not merely an infrastructure requirement but a determinant of health outcomes.
“In a hospital, electricity is not an amenity; it is a clinical input,” he said.
He explained that electricity was required for critical services and equipment, including vaccine cold chains, oxygen concentrators, operating theatres and incubators for premature babies.
According to Mr Salako, between 60 and 70 per cent of Nigeria’s primary and tertiary health facilities experience frequent power outages or lack electricity altogether.
“About 40 per cent of functional PHCs have no electricity access, with most of the remaining 60 per cent receiving only six to 10 hours of electricity per day,” he said.
Hospitals spend up to 50% of their operating costs on energy
Mr Salako said the unreliable power supply was also placing a significant financial burden on teaching hospitals.
According to him, teaching hospitals require between three and eight megawatts to operate optimally but receive roughly five hours of electricity from the national grid daily.
He said this had resulted in hospitals committing between 40 and 50 per cent of their operating expenditure to energy, much of it spent on diesel.
Mr Salako acknowledged efforts by the Federal Ministry of Power and the REA to provide sustainable electricity to health facilities.
He said federal tertiary health institutions, including teaching hospitals in Maiduguri and Calabar, had benefited from the Energising Education Programme.
Under the Nigeria Electrification Project, he said 100 health facilities had also received 50 kilowatt containerised solar hybrid systems, while a second phase would target 400 PHCs.
Despite these interventions, Salako said the sustainability of renewable energy systems remained a major concern.
Steady power in 30% of facilities by 2027
Mr Salako said the 30 per cent target was part of the Nigeria Power-for-Health Initiative approved by President Bola Tinubu following the first National Stakeholders’ Dialogue on Power in the Health Sector held in September 2025.
According to him, the dialogue produced a Compact for the Sustainable Electrification of Public and Private Health Facilities, signed by the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Federal Ministry of Power, sub-national governments, the Committee of CMDs/MDs, the private sector, development partners and civil society.
He said the dialogue also produced an implementation plan aimed at ensuring that at least 30 per cent of health facilities in Nigeria had a steady power supply by the end of 2027.
ALSO READ: Nigeria records 50% drop in maternal deaths in health facilities – Report
The initiative also produced a governance structure on which the REA and other government agencies sit, Mr Salako said.
He said achieving the target would require private capital and partnerships, as the government alone could not finance the scale of energy infrastructure needed across Nigeria’s health system.
RAMCO-health sector collaboration
Mr Salako proposed four areas of collaboration between RAMCO and the Nigeria Power-for-Health Initiative.
He called for health facilities to be recognised as a distinct asset class within RAMCO’s portfolio, beginning with teaching hospitals that had already been solarised under the Energising Education Programme and systems delivered to health facilities under the Nigeria Electrification Project.
He also proposed linking RAMCO’s professional asset management with the institutionalisation of Facility Energy Management Teams in hospitals, with support from UK PACT.
According to him, RAMCO’s asset register should be integrated with health facility energy audits so that both sectors can plan on a single evidence base.
He further proposed that a defined share of RAMCO’s capital be directed towards PHCs, which he described as the sites least commercially attractive but most consequential for maternal and newborn survival.
Mr Salako said the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare would support RAMCO by giving it a seat on the Inter-Agency Technical Committee of the Power-for-Health Initiative.
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